I spend WAYY too much time on TikTok. I am deep into BookTok and get book recommendations all day long.
But the other day, I got about five videos from Analeigh Ford, an author of a new book called A Veil of Truth and Trickery.
I have pre ordered this book because it seem like it is going to be so good!
Here is the cover:
How beautiful is it?
I cannot wait to add this to my shelf.
This is the synopsis:
“Delphine has been fae-marked from birth, treated as a curse despite the fact the once treacherous fae haven’t been sighted in decades—in fact, no one in Delph’s village has laid eyes on one of the folk in nearly a century.
Right up until a fae turns up on her doorstep, demanding Delph as down payment.
No sooner has she set foot in the fae realm, however, then she learns she’s no mere collateral in a deal made with the lord that owns her family lands. She was selected for a reason, hunted down for a single purpose.
The fae courts are fading. The folk disappearing.
Only four courts remain. Four princes determined to save their crumbling kingdoms.
And Delph … Delph may just hold the key to save them all.
But even as Delph learns to see past the feared glamour of the fae realm, she quickly learns the impossible position she’s found herself in. The fae may not be the monsters she was led to believe, but in order to save them … she may have to become a monster herself.”-Reverse Harem Author Website
It seems really entertaining.
I think that it is similar to Sarah J. Maas’ ACOTAR series. But it will be interesting to see the differences.
I preordered using this link and I got the signed hardcover. When you buy the signed hardcover, you also get the eBook format a few days before the hardcover goes out.
I am usually not good at keeping track of books coming out but this I am ready for.
Cant wait to see what you made Analeigh Ford! (Here is the link to her TikTok where she posts really fun videos on it!)
“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” -That Artsy Reader Girl
This weeks theme is:
Recent Reads
So here are the last 10 books I read:
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
I love Top ten Tuesdays! Link your post down below.
Published May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance
Pages: 419
“Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.” -Goodreads
My Review:
I love Maas. I always have and always will.
Her books are just so amazing. I wish just once I could write a bad review about her. Just once so no one would think I am prejudice about her books.
This book was no exception.
It took me forever to get around to reading this book. I wanted to finish all of Throne of Glass before I came to this. My mother kept begging me to read it. I just did not want the conflicting story lines confusing me.
But here I am now in the Fae world of Feyre and Tamlin.
The story starts of really well and ends really well. I could tell Maas was trying to hide a lot but I do not think she did it as well as she did back in the Throne of Glass books. She always had someone tell Feyre “oh there is more but I cannot tell you” which was a little annoying. But other than that I thought the story line was pretty good and unique to the story. I think it was hard to imagine that Feyre just decided to walk off with a faire beast in the beginning. I feel like in Tamlin’s human form it would have been fine, but not full beast.
Other things were kind of quirky that I thought could use some work, but Maas is a genius so I dont want to wrec her too much. The courts on the map are split by straight lines. Her dedication to Josh at the beginning says something like “because he would go Under the Mountain for me,” but going Under the Mountain was not like a test of love (except in Feyre and Tamlin’s case), it was just like a prison type deal.
Other than those things I loved it. I think it had the right amount of action/suspense. I read this within a few days. I literally could not put it down. I talked my co-workers ears off about it. It was so good!
I think I like Feyre. I think she was a really interesting character to begin with. I love that Maas creates these amazingly strong female characters. I did not feel like she had to much of a personality. Aelin in Throne of Glass was really thought out and was her own person. Feyre feels like she is floating through life. Yes, she is strong and independent, but she does not seem to have a set say she thinks or feels. I feel as though she goes a long with things to easily. She does not make up her mind a lot (which I can relate to) and follows Tamlin’s words really well. There were moments where she appeared to be following her own heart like when she disobeys some orders. Other than that, she seems to do what everyone else says. I wonder if Maas was trying to make her as least like Aelin as she could.
Tamlin seems really nice. Now, I have been spoiled and I know he is not the real love interest of the story, but I like him so far. I dont know what he does wrong and I dont know how Rhysand gets involved yet (even though he is mega delicious). I almost wish I read this sooner because BookTok hates Tamlin for some reason and I knew that. I probably would have liked to figure out that we hate Tamlin while reading so I did not have this lingering feeling of not getting attached.
And then there is Rhysand. Let me just say, I think I have a type. Assholes with dark brown hair are my new bread and butter. We do not know a lot about him in this book but he strikes that deal with Feyre so I am excited to see where that takes them. I think he really turned out to be a nice guy. I honestly think he was a nice guy overall but I do not think that his purpose was explained as well as it could have been, but maybe that is to come later.
One last thing, the riddle was such an obvious answer Feyre was dumb for not knowing it right of the bat. Anyways….
I think I really like this book series so far. I love Maas. There are a few tiny elements I would love to improve, but Maas knows everything so I do not want to correct a master. I know I keep doing a lot of short reviews but a lot of these books are older and I assume that most have read them. I just like to put my two cents in.
“No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.
Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.
But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.” -Goodreads
My Review:
AAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO WAY
So, if you dont know, I do not like historical fiction. Have I really read a lot of historical fiction? No. But I was never really into it and sometimes I would pick up a book just to get bored with it. I especially hated the American historical fiction (weird because I am American) because I basically knew what was going to happen, I did not care, etc.
But I know nothing about the Ottoman Empire except that they like fail in the end. I thought this would make me dislike the book even more and I was so scared to start it.
(Disclaimer: When I bought the book, I had no clue that it was historical fiction. I only found out when I started reading, oops.)
I began reading and I instantly liked it. It started off with like a nice little montage of the two main character’s Radu and Lada’s childhood. I thought it was really entertaining to see them grow up.
I mean you know a book is good when:
“Let her be strong. Let her be sly. And let her be ugly.“
is one of the first major lines.
With the timeline ion the book, I did get a little confused later on because one minute they were 13 and the next chapter they were nearing 18 or were 18. That was a hiccup I could not quite wrap my head around.
The way this book reads is a lot like Game of Thrones. A lot of time chunks get cut off. I think this was to account for the real-life time of the Ottoman Empire.
It turns out that the Murad and Mehmed in the book are actually real people. Radu is also real but I am not so sure about Lada. I cannot really look too much into it because every time I search her name it takes me to wiki fandom links about the series, AND I CANNOT GET SPOILED.
If Lada isnt real I will cry. But I dont think she is so…
Gif of Man Crying
Lada was a great character. I think that she stayed a petty static character throughout. Yes, she had some changes but not life changing personality changes, in my opinion. I think she was pretty badass though. She stays strong from childhood on ward. I wish she had been a little more trusting of her brother and had not kept things from him, but I guess that is just because I also know Radu’s side. She is a crazy intense character and I cannot wait to see how she develops in the second book.
I mean she really is such a strong lady in a time where woman were not taught to be strong.
I am loving the books I am reading with these strong female leads.
Radu is a great character in my opinion. I do think he has some weird shifts in character and he kept too many secrets too. The gay sub-plot was exciting and I knew nothing about it. I definitely would have loved to see more of it, so hopefully the next two have a bit more of this.
Mehmed is someone who I hate. I absolutely hate him. Sure, he seems like he is nice, but he is too set on his goals in life. Even when everyone around him, including his dearest friends, are telling him he is wrong, he still believes he is right. The ending was so annoying because of this BASTARD.
Ugh… anyways,
Look at this happy cute little fanart of the three of them:
The book was really good. It was extremely tense on some parts and then somewhat dull in others. I think at the end the big climactic moment ends WAAAAAY to short. Like honestly, I did not even know it had ended, that is how short it was. That was kind of sad.
But the way it ended was phenomenal (other than Mehmed whom I still hate) and I am excited to read the others.
If you like historical fiction, this book was meant for you. If you do not, this book might get you hooked into historical fiction. I am not sure if I will venture out into that genre after this series, but who knows?
It is spring break for my school, but because of the pandemic, I stayed at my apartment.
I am basically doing a Marvel movie marathon.
I am watching them all in release date order, which I have never done before, and it is pretty fun. but, the week has left me with little time to read, hence the small amount of posts.
I got straight As in all of my classes this last quarter. I think this was one of the hardest quarters I have had. The classes were so boring and online school is really testing my patience. Thank god we are almost done with that.
I have been doing a lot of research into when I can get my vaccine. I want it so badly. My co-workers and I are planning on starting hot yoga once we all get the vaccines.
I am excited for next quarter which will start on Tuesday. I just paid for my last textbook and for my tuition. After this, I am going to just peruse my courses that are uploaded on Canvas.
I have 200 pages left to go in the Throne of Glass series. I am super excited about finishing it. I have not had this strong of a connection with a series since I read The Maze Runner or Harry Potter. I am just ready for it to be done but sad to see it go.
I did not have a lot to update you guys on but I needed something to post for this week. So hope you had a good time with this tiny post.
It is Monday night and I did not write anything for Monday. But, I have this great website I wanted to share with you guys so I will make this a quick post for Monday.
So basically, it takes a whole bunch of white noise sounds and compiles them so users can create their very own atmosphere. I found it on TikTok a few days ago and it changed my life.
In other words, you can be vibing, doing homework in your room but transported to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Or you can be listening to the haunting but serene sounds of the Torre Cesme Library. Or, my all-time favorite, Celeana’s Bedroom.
LIKE THEY HAVE LITERALLY ANY SOUND YOU WANT
and if you can’t find it…..
MAKE IT.
I have not tried the making sound feature. It is too hard. Like literally I can’t figure it out but I only tried for one minute and then got bored.
Anyways,
This website is the best. I told my friend about it and I got roasted for listening to a Hogwarts library audio while in our school’s dining hall.
Hey, it was better than listening to the guy five tables down complaining about wearing his mask.
Anyways, I hope someone else thinks this website is as cool as I thought it was. I am literally addicted and I listen to everything I can. I like to listen to a playlist about the books I am reading so that I feel as though I am in the story more.
So, that was my quick Monday night post. Sorry for it being late and sorry for it being short. I was lazy, okay? We all should know this about me by now.
Published September 5th 2017 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 660
“Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold.
After enduring unspeakable horrors as a child, Yrene Towers has no desire to help the young lord from Adarlan, let alone heal him. Yet she has sworn an oath to assist those in need—and will honor it. But Lord Westfall carries shadows from his own past, and Yrene soon comes to realize they could engulf them both.
In this sweeping parallel novel to the New York Times bestselling Empire of Storms, Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene will have to draw on every scrap of their resilience if they wish to save their friends. But while they become entangled in the political webs of the khaganate, deep in the shadows of mighty mountains where warriors soar on legendary ruks, long-awaited answers slumber. Answers that might offer their world a chance at survival—or doom them all . . .” –Goodreads
My Review:
Okay, to everyone out here who has finished the ToG series and ACOTAR AND Crescent City, leave me alone. I know I am late. To put into perspective how long I have been trying to finish this series, I finished Queen of Shadows before Tower of Dawn came out, and then I stopped reading for like four years. But, I am now jumping back into the game. I re-read all the books. I just did a review of Empire of storms. And here I am done with Tower of Dawn.
What a long road it has been.
And it isn’t over yet. I still go tone more book to finish. It is going to be a crazy time.
Even after starting this series back in 2016, I still have not been spoiled the ending of Kingdom of Ash. It scares me a little because do people just not want to talk about it because it is that horrifying? Or was it just so good the book community is still in shock? Or am I just not in the right circles?
I DONT ACTUALLY WANT TO KNOW. DO NOT SPOIL IT AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN LIVING PEACEFULLY AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SPOILER FREE.
Anyways,
Tower of Dawn.
What an exciting book.
When I tell you how much I disliked Chaol at the beginning and how much I loved him at the end. Was that a universal thing or just me? I feel like the fourth book just made him seem like an asshole and he just never recovered from that. Until now.
I am glad we got this whole other perspective to the story. It was kind of nice to going back to only having three POVs. I love Maas and her POVs but Empire of Storms and Queen of Shadows was insane with the switching. This was a nice break. But, I am sure the Kingdom of Ash is going to have all the OG POVs and Nesryn and Yrene and Manon and Elide and Lochan and literally everyone who has a name in the story.
Gotta love it
Also, I did not think that this story would be such a big part of the whole series. I was told once a few months after it came out that it was utterly unnecessary to read. UM WHAT? This gave us like the biggest plot twist ever and if I had to just get that summarized my Kingdom of Ash, I would have been PISSED.
So, if you are reading ToG please read this book. Don’t let people lie to you.
You learn kind of really important information like almost vital information to the entire war that is happening. When the whole thing drops about Maeve my jaw hit the floor. It was insane. And when Yrene did the thing.
OH MY GOD SHE SO SWAG!!!
I am really trying to keep this spoiler-free but I cant say much without ruining it. As usual.
Also, can we talk about Yrene. What a beautiful person! She was so nice. I thought she had an amazing personality. She was described so beautifully and she was so badass!!
Lets go back to Chaol’s character development in the story. I think he starts off as an arrogant ass and ends up as a less arrogant ass. But, all improvement is good. And who doesn’t love an arrogant ass, am I right?
Also, while looking for fanart I found this. WHAT THE HELL? Is this real or did someone just make this. I couldn’t find any art credits. I…….This would have looked so well on my shelf instead of the shield. BUT I AM NOT DOGGING ON THE SHIELD, just saying I would have preferred a person on the cover.
Tower of Dawn cover but with a man
Also I found this really cute art piece. I am going to show it but it contains a little spoilers (even though it is obvious that they get together in the end).
Chaol and Yrene fanart by Meabhusd
How talented is that.
I love it so much.
I love their whole story arc. I also love that Chaol hated himself for a moment because he kissed Yrene. It just makes me happy to see him get some revenge.
Ugh, the whole story was amazing. I honestly think this beats out Crown of Midnight for my favorite book in the series. It is so good. The emotions are raw and intense. It deals with really hard issues in life. It has some badass women in there. It leads up to the ending really well. The beginning was a little slow and the ending was not as satisfying as I would have liked but, you cant have the new love birds die just yet can you?
Wink Wink
Anyways, I think I am done for today. I am trying to figure out if more people will read my stuff on the weekends or if posting on the weekdays is alright. I just see the weekends as my time to write. But, I can change it up depending on what people prefer.
(Also I just found of I can drag and drop post titles from another tab onot here so I did not have to rewrite out all these titles!)
Things I did:
I really did not do much. I played ALOT of Minecraft. I started my Winter quarter in school. I went to Yakima with my roommates. I went home twice for a dentist and a doctors appointment. I had my first IV and my first (and hopefully last) MRI. I kept up with all my school work. I think I am following through on most of my resolutions. I just have not been able to purchase my journal. I did not even know that February was so close so I am going to do that after work. I am excited for Febuary.
I would like to, in the future, be able to provide my posts that I plan on making in this part but I am lazy at the moment unable to do it for the moment.
“Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.”-Goodreads
Review:
Well…
I hate giving in to reading hyped up books. They always ket me down somewhat.
Now the book was good, the romance was cute, but it just seemed to stereotypical. The romance was too rushed and the endless talking about musicals was insane.
Now, I love a good musical. I do not think they are represented enough in books. I listen to the Hamilton soundtrack every time I make the 2 hour drive from college to my home.
But I felt like Hamilton refrences were being shoved down my throat the ENTIRE book.
And it is cute to have a thing. I like when books have a thing so you can remind yourself of these books. Sometimes I think books dont show the romance’s “thing” enough.
BUT GODD*MN I have never been more annoyed in my life.
That being said this book was good. Lots of people enjoy it and I also enjoyed it. It just was too much sometimes.
I loved that the romance was relatable. Like it modelled a modern day romance (in the middle). It showed how people are flawed. I liked that it showed both sides of the story, but the end and the beginning just seemed too much. Like okay, I am going to try and say this in a way that does not spoil anything. The beginning goes WAY too fast. Like the authors could have played around with this a bit more. Led the chase on a bit longer than it did. And the end, wasn’t unrealistic enough for me to like it. And it wasn’t realistic enough for me to like it. If you have read it and want to know what I mean, go o my contact page. But seriously, the end was like a moderate ending. I did not like it. Part of why we like books is because they are unrealistic. They are our fantasies. And this did not play out that fantasy, But, it did not play out how real-life would have taken the relationship (if they were any normal 16-year-old couple). So I did not like that aspect.
Saying that I did not like the romance of a romance novel pretty much means the book was bad. But it wasmt. I liked it a lot. But it just was inconsistent.
I loved the characters though. Arthur and Ben were amazing. I loved Dylan. Ethan and Jessie were too predictable but it was a cute trope that they had going on.
Anyways I do not want to talk about this book anymore. I am glad I finished one more book of my shelf.
Guess what? It is WWW Wednesday. This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. And it involves answering the 3 Ws!
•What are you currently reading?
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
“Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq have arrived in the shining city of Antica to forge an alliance with the Khagan of the Southern Continent, whose vast armies are Erilea’s last hope. But they have also come to Antica for another purpose: to seek healing at the famed Torre Cesme for the wounds Chaol received in Rifthold…”-Goodreads
Lucy by Jamacia Kincaid (for school)
“Lucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. Lewis and Mariah are a thrice-blessed couple–handsome, rich, and seemingly happy. Yet, almost at once, Lucy begins to notice cracks in their beautiful facade. With mingled anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the assumptions and verities of her employers’ world and compares them with the vivid realities of her native place. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is…”-Goodreads
•What did you recently finish reading?
Empire of Storm by Sarah J. Maas
“Kingdoms will collide.
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t…” -Goodreads
What if it’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
“Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things…”-Goodreads
•What do you think you’ll read next?
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
“Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people ― but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve is unraveling with each passing day…” -Goodreads
Anyways, hope you guys are having a good week. I am trying to get my review for What if its Us out as soon as possible. It has been a busy week but I get to go home for a quick visit.
